Tool Handling Device in a Drillrig That is Situated on the Sea Bed

ABSTRACT

A drilling rig device ( 1 ) situated on the seabed ( 11 ), where the drilling rig ( 1 ) is sealingly enclosed against the surroundings, and where the drill floor ( 26 ) of the drilling rig ( 1 ) is provided with an automated handling means ( 24 ) and a cartridge ( 27 ) for storage of tools and components, the automated handling means ( 24 ) being arranged at least to handle and transport tools and components between the drilling centre ( 22 ) of the drilling rig ( 1 ) and the cartridge ( 27 ) for storage of tools and components.

This invention regards a tool handling device in a drilling rig situated on the seabed. More particularly, it regards a drilling rig situated on the seabed, where the drilling rig is sealingly enclosed against the surroundings. The drill floor of the drilling rig is provided with automated handling means and a cartridge for tools and components, the automated handling means being arranged at least to handle and transport tools and components between the drilling centre of the drilling rig and the cartridge for storage of tools and components.

It is common knowledge that oil and gas deposits in the earth's crust are recovered by drilling holes down to the deposits, to allow oil and gas deposits to be drained to the surface.

The equipment used to drill holes in the earth's crust primarily comprises a drilling derrick formed as a trussed steel structure. In the drilling derrick there is a wireline based drawworks for hoisting and deploying drill pipes. A great deal of auxiliary equipment is also used to handle drill pipes and to set casing in the borehole.

Floating or fixed platforms provided with the required drilling equipment are utilized to recover oil and gas deposits from great depths. These types of platforms are large and expensive structures, as the drilling equipment is large and heavy. In addition to the actual drilling equipment, marine risers must also be used to circulate drilling mud between the platform and the seabed during the drilling operation. Floating platforms also require heave compensation to accommodate wave motion against the platform relative to the seabed.

As an alternative to drilling from floating drilling platforms, the drilling rig may be arranged directly on the seabed, obviating the need for large and expensive platforms.

Today, the oil industry possesses a great deal of advanced equipment developed for remote-controlled subsea operations. This is technology that is available and may be used during a remote-controlled drilling operation where the drilling equipment is situated directly on the seabed.

Prior art does not provide a solution to these problems in connection with drilling rigs situated on the seabed.

The object of the invention is to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of prior art.

The object is achieved in accordance with the invention, through the features given in the description below and in the following claims.

A drilling rig in accordance with the invention is situated on the seabed, the drilling rig being sealingly enclosed and against the surroundings, and it is characterized in that the drill floor of the drilling rig is provided with automated handling means and a cartridge for storage of tools and components, the automated handling means being arranged at least to handle and transport tools and components between the drilling centre of the drilling rig and the cartridge for storage of tools and components.

The cartridge for storage of tools and components is replaceable and is installed in an encased silo, the upper part of the silo being provided with a sluice way for inward and outward transfer. Thus the cartridge, which is preferably rotatable about its vertical axis, can be brought to the surface to replace e.g. worn drill bits.

The automated handling means is provided with grippers which may be rotated about two substantially perpendicular axes. The automatic handling means is rotatable about an essentially vertical axis.

The automated handling means is mounted on the drill floor of the drilling rig and is designed to handle tools and equipment of the type used to drill into the ground. It may be remote-controlled, e.g. from a surface vessel, or it may be programmed for automatic execution of operations.

At a level above the drill floor the drilling rig is provided with a drilling unit comprising drawworks and driving means for drilling operations. At the drilling centre of the drilling rig there is provided a coupling unit arranged to connect and disconnect lengths of piping. The automated handling means is arranged to cooperate with the drilling unit and the coupling unit, by for instance delivering tools and equipment to these machines during a drilling operation.

A device according to the invention provides a solution for remote-controlled execution of drilling operations from a drilling rig situated on the seabed. Use of the device according to the invention makes it possible to achieve a considerable reduction in the costs associated with floating drilling equipment, and also less dependent upon good weather conditions at the drilling site.

The following describes a non-limiting example of a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a principal drawing of an enclosed drilling rig with a connection to a surface vessel;

FIG. 2 is a principal drawing of a robotized drill floor on the drilling rig; and

FIG. 3 shows an automated handling means.

In the drawings, reference number 1 denotes an enclosed drilling rig constructed for placement on the seabed 11. The drilling rig comprises an upper section 12 and a lower section 13, a supporting section 14 being located primarily in the lower section 13.

The drilling rig 1 is controlled from a surface vessel 2 on the surface 5 of the sea. A tubing and cable connection 3 extends between the drilling rig 1 and the surface vessel 2, from a cable drum 4 and down to the drilling rig 1.

The drilling rig 1 is provided with several suction anchors 8 which provide anchorage to the seabed 11. The suction anchors 8 are connected to the supporting section 14 via sections 20.

At the top of the drilling rig 1 there is provided a lock cover 10 for a drilling unit (not shown) and lock covers 9 for drill pipe cartridges 7. The drill pipe cartridges 7 are inserted into encased silos 21.

The upper section 12 comprises the drilling unit (not shown) with associated drill pipe handling equipment (not shown), together with several drill pipe cartridges 7.

The lower section 13 comprises a drill floor 26 provided with at least one automated handling means 24 plus a coupling unit 23 at the drilling centre 22 of the drilling rig 1 for connecting and disconnecting pipes (not shown). The pipes may be e.g. drill pipes or casing. Close by the automated handling means 24 there are also rotatable cartridges 27 for storage of tools and components.

The automated handlings means 24 is arranged to handle tools, drill bits and equipment (none of which is shown) required during a drilling operation.

The automated handling means 24 is connected to the drill floor 26 via a flanged connection 33. Between the flanged connection 33 and the body 31 of the automated handling means 24 there is a slewing ring 32 that allows the automated handling means 24 to rotate about its vertical central axis 39.

On the body 31 there is provided a main arm 29 and an intermediate arm 34 which can be rotated and displaced by hydraulic cylinders 30.

There are grippers 28 associated with the main arm 29, connected via a rotational adapter 35 which is rotatably coupled to the main arm 29 by a coupling 36. Thus the grippers 28 are supported in a manner which allows them to go through rotational motion about two substantially perpendicular axes 37, 38. 

1. A drilling rig device situated on the seabed, where the drilling rig is sealingly enclosed against the surroundings, wherein the drill floor of the drilling rig is provided with an automated handling means and a cartridge for storage of tools and components, the automated handling means being arranged at least to handle and transport tools and components between the drilling centre of the drilling rig and the cartridge for storage of tools and components.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartridge for storage of tools and components is replaceable and is installed in an enclosed silo.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the upper part of the silo is provided with a sluice way for inward and outward transfer.
 4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the automated handling means is provided with grippers that are rotatable about two substantially perpendicular axes, the automated handling means being rotatable about an essentially vertical axis. 